Multi-faced toy expressing different emotions

ABSTRACT

An emotion communication device having a ball and socket configuration where a facial object is rotatable within a receptacle socket provided by a head-shaped portion. Spaced apart along an exterior surface of the facial object are a plurality of emotionally indicative representations. The head-shaped portion provides an opening communicating to the external environment so that a user of the present invention can selectively swivel the facial object so that one of the plurality of emotionally indicative representations is visible through the opening, thereby signaling a present emotional state, while enjoying the present invention as a toy.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisionalapplication No. 63/217,376, filed Jul. 1, 2021, the contents of whichare herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to toys and, more particularly, amulti-faced toy enabled to express a plurality of different emotionslike sadness, anger, happiness, and surprise.

Human beings are complex emotional creatures. Every human has amultiplicity of emotional expressions based on underlying feeling(s) orthought(s). Every human being whether understood or not has differentemotion al states ranging from happiness, sorrow, anger, ordisappointment, etc. And emotions change sometimes without warning andin an unregulated manner for kids, the developmentally challenged,nonverbal and/or cognitive deficient adults, and others. Humans havemore than two emotions, but most toys express only two emotions, someonly express one emotion.

In short, current emotionally expressive toys tend to be binary.

As can be seen, there is a need for a multi-faced toy enabling users toexpress a plurality of different emotions like sadness, anger,happiness, and surprise in a successive manner.

Acting as both a toy and a developmental/communication tool, the presentinvention can be used for indicating and expressing the emotional stateof an individual user as they enjoy it as a toy. The present inventionadds more depth to expressing human emotions as in sometimes vague andhard-to-decipher emotional states can be singularly and clearlyrepresented. It also gives the developmentally challenged, non-verbalchild and/or adult suffering from cognitive difficulties more options toexpress to others how they feel at a given time as well as how they feeldifferently over a duration of time. The present invention may embodyemotional logs adapted to track daily emotional health in long-termhealth facilities or other clinical settings.

This multi-faced toy/device when selectively moved to a particularemotional expression helps the individual zero in on what emotion(s)they are feeling at a particular time for the benefit of others.Accordingly, the individual can selectively communicate to others theirshifting emotional states, thereby allowing for empathy to be expressedif necessary or as a critical indicator for mental state regulation andobservation.

The present invention enables a plurality of emotional expressions fornon-verbal users who are having a hard time verbalizing their emotions.In sum, the present invention aids a user in expressing emotional stateto others, thereby serving as a communication device, toy, andrehabilitation tool all rolled into one.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an emotion signaling toyincluding a facial object having a plurality of emotional indiciumspaced along its outer surface; and a head-shaped portion defining areceptacle socket that communicates with an external environment via anopening, wherein the facial object operatively associates with thereceptacle socket in a ball and socket configuration so that only one ofthe plurality of emotional indicium is visible through the opening.

In another aspect of the present invention, the emotion signaling toyfurther includes two diametrically opposing bearing points on each alongan exterior of the facial object and along an interior of the receptaclesocket, wherein said bearing points facilitate the ball and socketconfiguration, wherein each of the plurality of emotional indiciumcomprises a facial representation associated with happiness, sorrow,anger, or disappointment.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of non-verballysignaling emotions, the method includes providing the above-mentionedemotion signaling toy and selectively rotating the facial object so thatone of the plurality of emotional indicium is visible through theopening.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, so that only one emotional-representative facet orface protrude beyond a furthest-most point of the head-shaped portionand is thus visible through the head-shaped portion's opening; thereceptacle cavity is shown in phantom for clarity.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2 , illustrating a ball andsocket configuration and the operatively associated rotational movementabout a polar axis 40.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, showing the facial object rotated to a firstemotionally expressive facet or face.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, showing the facial object rotated to a secondemotionally expressive facet or face.

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, showing the facial object rotated to a thirdemotionally expressive facet or face.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an emotioncommunication device having a ball and socket configuration where afacial object is rotatable within a receptacle socket provided by ahead-shaped portion. Spaced apart along an exterior surface of thefacial object are a plurality of emotionally indicative representations.The head-shaped portion provides an opening communicating to theexternal environment so that a user of the present invention canselectively swivel the facial object so that one of the plurality ofemotionally indicative representations is visible through the opening,thereby signaling a present emotional state, while enjoying the presentinvention as a toy.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 8 , the present invention may includean emotion communication toy 10. The emotion communication toy 10provides a head-shaped portion 11. The head-shaped portion 11 defines areceptacle socket 12 or cavity that communicates with the externalenvironment via an opening 13. The opening 13 may occupy the furthestmost point or plane of the head-shaped portion 11. Along an interiorsurface of the receptacle socket 12 may be a plurality of socketbearings points 18. In one embodiment the receptacle socket 12 providestwo diametrically opposing socket bearings points 18. The twodiametrically opposing socket bearings points 18 may define a polar axisabout which rotation is facilitated by the opposing socket bearingspoints 18.

The present invention includes a spherical or ovoid facial object 14. Aplurality of emotional indicium 16A, 16B, 16C, and 16D may be spacedapart along an exterior of the facial object 14. When there are fouremotional indicium, they will be radially spaced apart at 90-degreeincrements. It is understood that there may be more or less thanemotional indicium. Also, in certain embodiments, an emotion indiciummay have spacing such that two emotional indicium may be visible throughthe opening 13 simultaneously, thereby affording a user to expressing‘mixed-emotions’ embodying more than one emotional state.

The facial object 14 may provide a plurality of ball bearing points 19.In one embodiment, the facial object 14 may provide diametricallyopposing ball bearings points 19. The facial object 14 may bedimensioned and adapted to operatively associate in the receptaclesocket 12, defining a ball and socket configuration. In the ball andsocket configuration the ball and socket bearing points 19 and 18operatively associate so that the facial object 14 can be rotated withinthe receptacle socket 12 about the polar axis 40 that passes through thetwo socket bearing points 18.

The bearing points 18 and 19 may be adhesive hook and loop, magnet orother components enabling the facial object 14 to attach and swivel inthe receptacle socket 14. The facial object 14 may be plushie materialor any other conducive and child-friendly materials.

Each emotional indicium 16A, 16B, 16C, and 16D may represent a differentface expressing a different emotional state. Through the ball and socketconfiguration a user may swivel the facial object 14 to show aparticular emotion, visible through the opening 13, while concealingother emotions, thereby revealing one emotion at a time. Thereby, thepresent invention adds more depth to expressing human emotions. Thepresent invention also gives the developmentally challenged, ornon-verbal child or adult more options to express to others how theyfeel at a given time by rotating the facial object 14 within thereceptacle socket 12 and allowing the emotive indicia 16A-16D associatedwith their emotional state to be displayed outside the receptacle socket12 via the opening 13. Accordingly, a user is enabled to selectivelyshow an array of emotions as they please. Emotional logs can be used totrack the displayed emotive indicium 16A-16D, thereby capturing asnapshot of the user's emotional health in long-term health facilitiesor in clinical settings. A method of making the present invention mayinclude the following. Using plushie material a manufacture may create acircular three-dimensional (3D) spheroid or ovoid with at least fouremotional indicia 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D spaced along its outer surface,wherein each emotional indicia may be faces expressing differentemotions or emotional indicia, such as laughing, crying, anger, andsmiling, etc. The head-like portion 11 may also be made of plushiematerial with a cavity or socket to connect the 3D multi-faced object.Embedded along both an interior of the receptacle cavity 12 and theexterior of the facial object 14 will be aligned and cooperative bearingpoints 18 and 19. The bearing points 18 and 19 may include ballbearings, magnet, or the like to allow for rotative attachment of thetwo objects (facial object and receptacle cavity) being held in place.

The emotion communication toy 10 can help signal the emotional health ofthe user, e.g., a user can implicitly signal if they have a propensityfor self-harm or signal where along a spectrum the user is in theemotional development. Mental health centers can use the emotioncommunication toy 10 as part of their programs to help measure andidentify emotional cues. In the field of psychology and mentalrehabilitation, soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) canuse the emotion communication toy 10 to convey emotions while intherapy. Counselors can use the emotion communication toy 10 in schoolsto help children cope with trauma or to express how they are feeling.Wives and husbands can use the emotion communication toy 10 to helpdescribe their emotions without saying a word. Suicide preventioncenters can use the emotion communication toy 10 to help their patientscope with how they are feeling. Children's hospitals can utilize theemotion communication toy 10 to comfort children with a toy they canboth play with and express their feelings through.

Also, the present invention can be used for guessing the emotion of anindividual, thereby it can also be used to raise money for charities andto send overseas to children in foreign countries to show someone caresfor them.

This present invention is not limited to a physical toy, but the conceptwill also cover digital representations of the functionality of thedesign that can be used in apps, digital games, or drawings.

As used in this application, the term “about” or “approximately” refersto a range of values within plus or minus 10% of the specified number.And the term “substantially” refers to up to 90% or more of an entirety.Recitation of ranges of values herein are not intended to be limiting,referring instead individually to any and all values falling within therange, unless otherwise indicated, and each separate value within such arange is incorporated into the specification as if it were individuallyrecited herein. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language(“e.g.,” “such as,” or the like) provided herein, is intended merely tobetter illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on thescope of the embodiments or the claims. No language in the specificationshould be construed as indicating any unclaimed element as essential tothe practice of the disclosed embodiments.

In the following description, it is understood that terms such as“first,” “second,” “top,” “bottom,” “up,” “down,” and the like, arewords of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting termsunless specifically stated to the contrary.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An emotion signaling toy comprising: a facialobject having a plurality of emotional indicium spaced along its outersurface; and a head-shaped portion defining a receptacle socket thatcommunicates with an external environment via an opening, wherein thefacial object operatively associates with the receptacle socket in aball and socket configuration so that only one of the plurality ofemotional indicium is visible through the opening.
 2. The emotionsignaling toy of claim 1, further comprising: two diametrically opposingbearing points on each along an exterior of the facial object and alongan interior of the receptacle socket, wherein said bearing pointsfacilitate the ball and socket configuration.
 3. The emotion signalingtoy of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of emotional indiciumcomprises a facial representation associated with happiness, sorrow,anger, or disappointment.
 4. A method of non-verbally signalingemotions, the method comprising: providing the emotion signaling toy ofclaim 1; and selectively rotating the facial object so that one of theplurality of emotional indicium is visible through the opening.